The energy was electric at Acrisure Stadium on Monday night. You could feel it. Terrible Towels were everywhere, and the "Night in Pittsburgh" vibe was at an all-time high. But by the time the fourth quarter rolled around, that energy had turned into a ghostly silence, punctuated only by a few scattered boos. If you're looking for the short answer to who won steelers game, it was the Houston Texans, and it wasn't particularly close.
Houston walked away with a 30-6 victory.
The Texans didn't just win; they dismantled the Steelers in the Wild Card round. It was a 24-point margin that felt even wider. For those who stayed until the final whistle, it was a tough watch. The Texans are now heading to the Divisional Round to face the New England Patriots.
A Defensive Disaster in the Fourth Quarter
The score was actually 7-6 at halftime. Can you believe that? It was a slugfest. A real grit-and-grind AFC playoff game. The Steelers defense, led by T.J. Watt, was holding the line. But then the wheels didn't just come off; they exploded.
Aaron Rodgers—yeah, the 42-year-old legend who came to Pittsburgh for one last run—had a night he’d probably like to delete from his memory. In the fourth quarter, Sheldon Rankins returned an Aaron Rodgers fumble 33 yards for a touchdown. That made it 17-6. The air just left the building.
Then, things got worse.
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Calen Bullock picked off Rodgers and took it 50 yards to the house. Two defensive touchdowns for Houston in one quarter. Honestly, you can't win playoff games when your quarterback is handing out points like party favors. Rodgers finished the night with just 146 passing yards on 33 attempts. That's a meager 4.4 yards per pass. Not exactly the "Hall of Fame" impact the front office was hoping for when they signed him to that one-year deal.
The C.J. Stroud Factor
While the Texans' defense did the heavy lifting, C.J. Stroud did exactly what he needed to do. He wasn't perfect. He threw a pick to Brandin Echols and fumbled twice. But when the game was on the line, he found Christian Kirk for a 4-yard touchdown after a massive 16-play drive. Stroud finished with 238 yards and managed the game with the poise of a veteran, despite it being his first road playoff win.
Actually, it was the first road playoff win in Houston Texans franchise history. Imagine that.
Why the Steelers Offensive Plan Failed
The Steelers' offense was basically nonexistent. 175 total yards. That's it.
DK Metcalf was back from his suspension, but it didn't matter. He had two catches. He also had a brutal drop early on that could have changed the momentum when the Steelers were up 3-0. It’s those little things that kill you in January.
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- Third Down Woes: The Steelers started 0-of-6 on third downs. You can't sustain drives if you can't convert.
- Protection Breakdown: Rodgers was under siege. Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter were in the backfield more often than the Steelers' running backs.
- Lack of Run Game: Jaylen Warren had 66 yards, but the team never established a rhythm.
The Texans' defense came in ranked No. 1 in the league for a reason. They proved it. They swarmed every short pass and dared Rodgers to throw deep, which he simply couldn't do effectively.
The End of the Mike Tomlin Era?
The biggest story isn't just who won steelers game, but what happened right after.
Mike Tomlin stepped down.
After 19 seasons, the longest-tenured coach in the NFL (well, tied with Harbaugh until last week) called it a career. He didn't make excuses. In his post-game presser, he was classic Tomlin: "This is not an excuse-business. We didn't make enough plays and they certainly did."
It’s the end of a massive chapter in Pittsburgh sports. Tomlin never had a losing season, but this was his seventh straight playoff loss. That ties an NFL record held by Marvin Lewis. The "Standard is the Standard" mantra had started to feel a bit hollow for a fan base that expects Lombardi Trophies, not just Wild Card exits.
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What Happens to Aaron Rodgers?
Rodgers was replaced by Mason Rudolph with two minutes left in the game. When asked if he’d be back in Pittsburgh for 2026, he was short: "I'm not gonna talk about that."
He’s 42. He looked every bit of it on Monday night. With Tomlin gone, it's hard to imagine Rodgers wanting to stick around for a rebuild under a new head coach.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're a Steelers fan, the "Who won the game" question is settled, and it hurts. But the real work starts now. Here is what to keep an eye on over the next few weeks:
- Monitor the Head Coach Search: With Tomlin out, the Steelers coaching job is the most prestigious opening in sports. Names like Kellen Moore or even a return of a former defensive coordinator might surface.
- Draft Position: Since the Steelers won the AFC North with a 10-7 record but exited in the Wild Card, they'll be picking in the early 20s. Look for offensive line depth; Rodgers (or whoever is back there) needs more than two seconds to throw.
- Cap Space and Rodgers: If Rodgers retires or is released, the cap situation changes drastically. Keep an eye on the "dead money" figures that will come out in February.
The 30-6 loss to the Texans wasn't just a game; it was a turning point. The franchise is at a crossroads it hasn't seen since the mid-2000s.